Unit 3

Word

Definition

Example

access

to be able to use or obtain something

You need to access paper files

accommodate

to give what is needed

Physical spaces should accommodate the modern needs of work

achieve

to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially after a lot of work or effort

Cost-saving is certainly one of the results you can achieve

anticipate

to imagine or expect that something will happen

We anticipate that this trend will only increase

assess

to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of something

And how do you assess your progress?

believe me

said when emphasizing that something is true

Believe me, I can see where you're coming from

brings me to

to cause someone to come to a particular place or thing

So, that brings me to the end of my talk

conclude with

to end a speech, meeting, or piece of writing

I´ll conclude with some comments about how this will affect you

cover

to deal with or direct attention to something

Well, there just wasn't enough time to cover everything

digress

to move away from the main subject you are writing or talking about and to write or talk about something else

Could I just digress for a second?

divide up

to (cause to) separate into parts or groups

So, I´ve divided my talk up into three sections

dynamic

continuously changing or developing

The company buildings create a dynamic working atmosphere

effective

successful or achieving the results that you want

Staff can work wherever and whenever is most effective

exchange

the act of giving something to someone and them giving you something else

Come to the office to meet people and exchange information

facilitate

to make something possible or easier

We work to facilitate cultural change within companies

familiar with

knowing something or someone well

I don't know if you're familiar with this term?

fill somebody in on something

to give someone extra or missing information

I'll just fill you in on the background first

generate

to cause something to exist

It's important to generate enthusiasm for these changes

go according to plan

to happen as one arranged or intended

Did the presentation go according to plan?

hectic

full of activity, or very busy and fast

It's quite hectic over here too

I know what you mean

used for telling someone that you understand their situation very well, often because you have had a similar experience

I know what you mean about the traffic – it's terrible!

implement

to start using a plan or system

We are seeking to implement innovations in our work practices

key

very important and having a lot of influence on other people or things

This is my key point

measure

to judge the quality, effect, importance, or value of something

There are other ways to measure success

miss out

to fail to include someone or something that should be included

Send an email to cover the parts you missed out

move on

to start a new activity

OK, moving on now to look at how this all affects the workforce

option

one thing that can be chosen from a set of possibilities, or the freedom to make a choice

Most staff aren't given the option to work flexible hours

procedure

a set of actions that is the official or accepted way of doing something

Many of our procedures have been simplified recently

put in place

to establish or implement, usually referring to a system, a social structure or an institution

We plan to put in place the necessary infrastructure

quite

completely

I haven't quite finished yet

quite a few

a fairly large number

There were quite a few technical hiccups

refer to

to relate to a particular person or thing

'Career nomads' refers to those employees who change the rules of time management

request

a question in which you ask for something

I still think you should send the request again, though

sense of purpose

the quality of having a definite purpose

Meetings have a sense of purpose, and result in decisions

snowed under

having too much to do

Actually I'm quite snowed under at the moment

start by

to begin a set of activities with the thing or person mentioned

I'd like to start by talking about some of the changes

stick with

to continue to do something

They should have stuck with the original idea

sum up

to express briefly the important facts about something or the characteristics of someone

To sum up, we need to focus efforts on our customer experience

the means to

money, for example from an income, that allows you to buy things

We need to combine innovative working practices and the means to make them work

transform

to change completely the appearance or character of something or someone

We're interested in transforming our corporate culture for the modern era

turn to

to direct your attention, thoughts etc towards someone or something

I'd like to turn to the next agenda point if that's OK

word something

to choose the words you use when you are saying or writing something

Well, you might want to word the email so that it's not too aggressive

worth doing something

to be important or useful to do

It might be worth sending an email to everyone who came